PINEHURST, N.C. -- A golf cart driver was arrested Saturday after allegedly hitting a state trooper with his golf cart at the U.S. Open, authorities said.
Thomas Lineberry, 59, of Wilmington, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, hit and run, driving while impaired and resisting, obstructing and delaying a law enforcement officer, according to Pam Walker, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Walker said Lineberry was instructed to stop by a trooper working at the tournament. Instead, he kept going and hit the trooper in the leg, she said.
"He was taken into custody a few minutes later," she said.
Trooper Ryan A. Goodin was examined by the state Highway Patrol's medical staff, but was not seriously hurt, Walker said.
Lineberry was released Saturday night after posting bail, Walker said.
The Associated Press reported that Lineberry was driving NBC Sports analyst Roger Maltbie's golf cart.
NBC Sports released a statement.
"We are aware of the incident involving a local volunteer and will refrain from commenting further until we have all of the facts and have spoken to everyone involved," the statement said.
Maltbie was walking with the final group of Martin Kaymer and Brendon Todd, according to AP. Lineberry's job is to drive Maltbie to get in position for the next shots.
An AP reporter who witnessed the incident heard Lineberry tell the trooper, "I'm supposed to get the cart to Roger."
"When a state trooper tells you to stop, that's what you're supposed to do," the trooper responded, inches from Lineberry's face.
Goodin was holding traffic behind a walkway as the players teed off on the 11th hole. He told Lineberry that the cart struck his leg. Goodin asked for the names of witnesses, and three people in the gallery handed him their business cards.
Goodin ran after and then collared Lineberry, quickly placing him in handcuffs, AP reported.
Copyright 2014 - The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
